SPF 5542 COL (Columbus) Introduction to Spiritual Formation II: Prayer Ashland Theological Seminary Spring Semester 2018 Columbus Campus Weekends January 26-27, February 23-24, March 23-24 Friday Evenings, 6-9 PM; Saturdays 8 AM -4 PM Dr. Brenda K. Buckwell bbuckwel@ashland.edu and brenda@livingstreamsflowingwater.com Phone: (C) 614.517.8115 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION Introduction to Spiritual Formation (4 hours) This course introduces students to the essential dynamics of spiritual formation in its individual and corporate dimensions. It invites students to learn about and practice a variety of classical spiritual disciplines, with a special focus on prayer, for the purpose of formation in Christlikeness in both personal and social contexts. This course is 4 hours with two parts of 2 hours each- SPF5541 Spiritual Formation I: Spiritual Disciplines, and SPF 5542: Spiritual Formation II: Prayer. SPF 5542: Spiritual Formation II: Prayer (2 hours) This course introduces students to the varieties of prayer in the Christian tradition. It focuses on the role of prayer in the formation of believers in the image of Christ for the sake of the church and the world. Students will practice a variety of individual and corporate prayer forms for personal and ministry formation. This course is two hours credit and meets weekends with no hybrid online component. This course is graded unless the student exercises the option of pass/fail at the time of registration. After the course has begun, this action cannot be changed. II. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES This course format consistently meets the same quality, assessment, learning outcomes and requirements of the traditional semester course format. As a result of this course, students will be able to: 1. Reflect theologically upon the prayers of the Bible. 2. Explore the varieties of prayer throughout Christian tradition. 3. Not assessed in this course. 4. Integrate theological and ethical reflection with the practice of prayer in students' own ministry context. 5. Not assessed in this course. 6. Practice a variety of prayer forms for both personal and ministry formation. Page 1 of 9
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS A. Textbooks and Other Materials Foster, Richard, J. 2003. Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060628464 Nouwen, Henri. 1981. The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom, and Silence. New York: Balantine Books. ISBN-13: 9780345463357 Washington, J. M., ed. 1994. Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062334725 B. Attendance According to the Student Handbook, attendance at all class sessions is expected unless the professor has been notified in advance and has approved the absence. Students should be on time and should stay through the duration of all classes. Any student missing more than six class hours (2 weeks) will be required to do additional work, receive a lower grade or withdraw from the class at the discretion of the professor. C. Assignments/ Assessment of Student Learning Prayer and Practice (60%), 2 Papers 30% each Two 10 pages, double-spaced papers on a specific practice of prayer of student's choice. Topics (the prayer practice) must be pre-approved by the instructor through email. Paper #1 pre-approval of prayer practice topic through email by February 10, 2018. Due date February 24, 2018 by 8:00 am Paper #2 pre-approval of prayer practice topic through email by March 3, 2018. Due date March 24, 2018 by 8:00 am Please email papers to the instructor as a Word.doc attachment AND bring 2 hard copies of your paper to class. Each paper will include ethical and theological reflection along with reflection and integration into the student's ministry context and calling. Paper 1 is due February 24, 2018 and Paper 2 is due March 24, 2018. These papers will be shared in class on the due dates. No incompletes or extensions will be given. Grammar and spelling will influence the grading. Please follow the writer s handbook for organization of your paper. Students will study and practice a specific prayer form within a particular Christian tradition, looking at the Biblical and historical development, current practice or the way it has contributed to forming the tradition. Students will examine the prayer form, engaging in the literature of the tradition with outside research and sources. These papers will include both the practice of the prayer form and Page 2 of 9
reflections with outside research and sources. Particular attention will be given to the integration into the student's ministry context. A word about Plagiarism it is unacceptable to use someone else s words as yours own. This means no copying from Internet sources, other students work, and written work in word, pictures or images without proper citation. To learn more about Ashland University writing policy see www.ashland.edu/administration/graduate-online-adult-center-academic-support/writingconsultation Plagiarism is easily spotted by instructors through a simple Google search of phrases. Please use proper citation to all quoted material. If plagiarism is suspected in the student s paper the instructor will automatically reduce the student s grade by one letter or fail the class. Please use inclusive language in the papers. Use footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical references to document your papers, following consistently the style you select as found in the Ashland Theological Seminary Writing Handbook. Small Group Presentation Experience for the class on one prayer practice (10%) The class will be divided into small groups for this assignment. The groups will have time in class to plan for their leadership of an experience of prayer for the remaining students. The prayer experience must be at least ½ hour in duration. Pre-approval of the small groups chosen prayer practice must be discussed with the instructor before the conclusion of second weekend class. The small group leadership team for this prayer experience will: 1. Give a short introduction to the prayer practice including a. A brief biblical and historical foundation of where this practice originated b. What will be experienced c. How it will be the experience will proceed. 2. The group will lead the class through the prayer experience 3. Conclude your presentation with a discussion of how this prayer practice could be used in contemporary ministry settings. 4. A short debrief of the experience a. What was the experience of the participants of this time of prayer? b. What was it like for the small group leadership team to facilitate this experience? Due date small groups will present their facilitation of a prayer experience on the last day of class, March 24, 2018. Journaling & Prayer Partner 10% Students will keep a daily prayer journal for the duration of this class. The journal will be a written or pictorial notebook or a combination of creative arts and written word (poetry, narrative, picture). Two entries of the students daily prayer journal will be shared with a prayer partner during the course of this class. The first shared entry will be emailed to the instructor and prayer partner by February 11, 2018. This is an actual prayer journal entry, not talking about what was in the entry. The second journal entry emailed to the instructor and prayer partner is due by March 11, 2018. Page 3 of 9
The prayer partner will then send an email response to the originator of the journal entry (copied to the instructor) by February 15, 2018. The second prayer partner response emailed to the instructor and the originator of the journal entry is due March 15, 2018 The responses to the journal entries are formational in nature no fixing, advising, judging. The prayer partner will ask open-ended formational questions of the original journal entry to help deepen awareness of God s presence in review of what the originator journaled. The prayer partner is like an archeologist helping the originator to excavate more insights from God s word shared in the original journal entry. The prayer partner will ask at least two (2) formational questions of the original entry, along with your own comments of how this prayer interfaces with you. Examples of formational, open-ended questions are things that the prayer partner could not know anything about even if you went through the same experience: If the topic of journal entry is a storm. The formational question may be: What was that storm in your life like for you? The second shared journal entry is the same format and will be emailed to the prayer partner and copied to the instructor by March 11, 2018. The prayer partner will send a response email to the originator of the journal entry (copied to the instructor) by March 15, 2018. Each response must have two (2) formational questions. Class of Work/Practice of Prayer 10% of prayer, practices in tradition, exploring the text of scripture, and engage the spiritual masters of prayer. Participation in daily discussions is critical to participate and contribute with readings completed. One-page written reflection on each Washington prayers. This is a total of 6 one-page reflections. 10% on prayers from the Washington book will include contextualization, biblical, and theological perspectives. Please read this book as a prayer honoring those that have lived and loved God before us in history, with a heart looking forward toward the potential influence of these prayers in our current historical period. Come prepared to each class session with at least two prayers from the Washington book s reading to bring to our discussion. Please bring two hard copies of each prayer one-page reflection paper to class. D. Calculation of Grade: Pass/Fail Basis Assignments Assignments Learning Outcomes Due Date Percent of Final Grade Small Group 1,2,4,6 Daily 10% Washington prayer 1,2,4,6 Daily 10% reflection 1-page Reflection Paper 1 1,2,4,6 February 24, 2018 30% Reflection Paper2 1,2,4,6 March 24, 2018 30% Small Group Presentation 1,2,4,6 March 24, 2018 10% Page 4 of 9
Journaling & Prayer Partner 1,2,4,6 Original entry # 1 February 11, 2018 Partner response due February 15, 2018 Original entry # 2 due March 11, 2018 Partner response March 15, 2018 10% IV. Tentative Course Schedule Day # Date(s) Lecture/Topics Readings/ Assignments Weekend 1, Session 1 January 26,2018 Friday Evening Session 2 January 27, 2018 Saturday Morning Session 3 January 27, 2018 Saturday Afternoon Weekend 2, Session 1 February 23, 2018 Friday Evening Session 2 February 24, 2018 Saturday Morning Introduction Moving Inward: Transformation Prayer Spiritual Formation & Prayer Moving Upward: Intimacy Solitude Prayer of the Heart Contemplative Prayer Silence Prayer experience Reading: Foster, intro John 14-17 Foster, chs. 1-4 Washington, Parts I & II Nouwen, Prologue 5-7 Reading: Foster, chs 8-10 Nouwen, Solitude Section Assignments: Topic of # 1 paper approved by instructor through email by February 10, 2018 First emailed prayer journal due February 11, 2018 Emailed Prayer partner respond due February 15, 2018 11-12 Washington, Parts III & IV 13-14 Nouwen, Silence Section Page 5 of 9
Session 3 February 24, 2018 Saturday Afternoon Weekend 3, Session 1 March 23, 2018 Friday Evening Session 2 March 24, 2018 Saturday Morning Session 3 March 24, 2018 Saturday Afternoon Moving Outward Petitionary Prayer of the Heart Prayer Small Group work time for prayer presentation on last day. Moving Outward: Authoritative and Healing Prayer Radical Prayer Ministry and Prayer Concluding Reflections Assignments: Second emailed prayer journal due March 11, 2018 Emailed Prayer partner respond due March 15, 2018 15-17 Nouwen, Prayer Section Assignments: Reflection Paper #1 due shared in class, Email topic of #2 reflection due March 3, 2018 18-20 Washington, Parts V & VI Reading: Foster, ch. 21 Nouwen, Epilogue Assignments: Reflection Paper #2 Due Group presentation of prayer practice V. Recommendations for Lifelong Learning 1. Consider a silent prayer retreat. 2. Participate in a small group for prayer. 3. Continue to read resources on prayer and particular traditions of prayer. 4. Meet regularly with a Spiritual Director. 5. Take one Sabbath Day a month for prayer and one Sabbath Week a year for retreat with a praying community. VI. Seminary Guidelines A. ATS Academic Integrity Policy Ashland Theological Seminary expects each student to uphold the Seminary s core value of academic excellence by contributing to an environment that is both challenging and supportive. In such an environment a student will neither seek nor offer improper assistance. All students have an Page 6 of 9
obligation to be forthright in their academic endeavors and to respect ethical standards. The work that one submits for academic evaluation must be one s own, unless an instructor expressly permits certain types of collaboration. Academic integrity requires that each student will use one s own capabilities to achieve one s fullest potential and will neither offer nor accept aid that is not in keeping with regularly accepted standards of academic integrity. Failure to conform to this conduct shall constitute academic dishonesty. The full Academic Integrity Policy statement may be found in the Student Handbook. B. Seminary Writing Consultation Service The Seminary Writing Consultation Service can help you brainstorm, draft, and revise your writing assignments in your graduate Seminary classes. Masters-qualified Consultants can advise you online or in person. E-mail your request for assistance to swc_group@ashland.edu Include the following information: Your name, the course # & professor s name, a brief description of the assignment, and your timeline. For more information, visit: http://seminary.ashland.edu/services/student-services/seminary-writingconsultation-services C. Accessibility Resources and Accommodations It is Ashland University s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on a disability, please contact the Student Accessibility Center at 419-289-5904, or send an email to dservices@ashland.edu. The Student Accessibility Center office and the course instructor will work together in order to establish accommodations and to meet your learning needs. D. ATS Grading Scale Grade Percent Description A 97-100 Superior achievement of course objectives, diligence and originality, high degree of freedom from error, outstanding evidence of ability to utilize course knowledge, initiative expressed in preparing and completing assignments, positive contributions verbalized in class. A- 92-96 B+ 89-91 B 86-88 Good work submitted, commendable achievement of course objectives, some aspects of the course met with excellence, substantial evidence of ability to utilize course material, positive contributions verbalized in class, consistency and thoroughness of work completed. B- 83-85 C+ 80-82 C 77-79 Acceptable work completed, satisfactory achievement of course objectives, demonstrating at least some ability to utilize course knowledge, satisfactory class contribution. C- 74-76 D+ 71-73 D 68-70 Passing but minimal work, marginal achievement of course objectives, poor performance in comprehension of work submitted, inadequate class contributions. Page 7 of 9
D- 65-67 F Below 65 Unacceptable work resulting in failure to receive class credit, inadequacy of work submitted or of performance and attendance in class. VII. Selected Bibliography or References Artress, Lauren. 1995. Walking A Sacred Path. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group. Blythe, Teresa A. 2006, 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. Blythe, Teresa A. and Daniel Wolpert. 2004. Meeting God in Virtual Reality: Using Spiritual Practices with Media (Convergence Series). Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. Bondi, Roberta C. 1998. A Place to Pray: Reflections on the Lord s Prayer. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. Buckwell, Brenda K. 2016.The Advent of God s Word: Listening for the Power of the Divine Whisper. Woodstock, VT: Skylight s Path Publisher. Chambers, O. 1993. Prayer: A Holy Occupation. Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers. Forman, Mary. 2005. Praying with the Desert Mothers. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press. Forest, Jim. 2006. Praying with Icons. New York: Orbis Books. Foster, Richard, J. 1981. Freedom of Simplicity. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco a Division of HarperCollinsPublishers. Hall, Sister Jeremy. 2007. Silence, Solitude, Simplicity: A Hermit s Love Affair with a Noisy, Crowded and Complicated World. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press. Keating, Thomas. 1994. Intimacy with God. New York, NY: The Crossroad Publishing Company. Kincannon, Karla M. 2005. Creativity and Divine Surprise. Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books. Merton, T. 1971. Contemplative Prayer. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. Murray, A. 2002. Teach Me to Pray. Minneapolis: Bethany House. Nouwen, H. 1997. Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. Page 8 of 9
Nouwen, H. 1991. Thomas Merton: Contemplative Critic. New York, NY: Triumph Books.. 1999. The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life. Wendy Greer, editor. New York: Crossroad Publishers.. 1997. Living in the Presence of God: the Everyday Spirituality of Brother Lawrence. Kirvan, John, editor. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press. Shockley, Donald G. 2004. Private Prayers in Public Places. Lincoln, NE: iuniverse, Inc. Steere, D. 2002. Dimensions of Prayer: Cultivating a Relationship with God. Nashville, TN: 6 Upper Room Books. Teresa of Avila, Translated by E. Allison Peers. 1989. The Interior Castle. NY: Image Books. Page 9 of 9